Norway parliament probes Epstein links to politicians, diplomats

Norway’s parliament has begun public hearings into links between the late US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and Norwegian politicians and diplomats following the release of millions of documents related to the disgraced financier.

The hearings began on Wednesday before the parliament’s Committee on Scrutiny and Constitutional Affairs, amid growing scrutiny of prominent Norwegians whose relationships with Epstein have emerged from the files.

The documents were released by the US Department of Justice in January and revealed Epstein’s connections to politicians, royals and wealthy individuals around the world.

The Norwegian government has faced pressure to explain how it intends to restore confidence in the country’s foreign service.

“There are many people who have demonstrated very poor judgment,” Jonas Andersen Sayed, who leads the parliamentary hearing, told Reuters about people who had friendships with Epstein.

The committee has summoned 11 current and former foreign and development ministers, including Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere, who served as foreign minister between 2005 and 2012.

Stoere has said he never had any relationship with Epstein and argued that the issues involved a few individuals rather than a systemic problem within Norway’s foreign ministry.

He said some of the identified issues had already been addressed, including through updated rules concerning conflicts of interest.

“Updated and comprehensive rules are necessary, but even the best system provides no complete guarantee against errors being made, whether intentional or unintentional,” Stoere said. “No system involving people can guarantee against the misuse of trust.”

He also said that, as far as he was aware, Epstein had exercised no influence over Norway’s foreign policy, development aid policy or other government decisions.

Former Norwegian Foreign Minister Boerge Brende also appeared before the hearing.

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Brende, who resigned as president and chief executive of the World Economic Forum after revelations about his relationship with Epstein, said he had met Epstein only after leaving the foreign minister position.

“Our contacts were limited to three dinners and exchanges via email and SMS,” Brende told the hearing.

“Regarding his abuse, had I known what I know today, I would never have been in contact with him, but I should have researched him more. I take responsibility for that.”

Brende also apologised for denying in November 2025 that he had met Epstein when questioned by Norwegian newspaper Aftenposten.

“I am sorry I was not honest at first,” he said.

Several other prominent Norwegians with reported ties to Epstein are also facing scrutiny. Former prime minister Thorbjoern Jagland, former minister Terje Roed-Larsen and former diplomat Mona Juul are under police investigation over corruption accusations. Reuters reported that all three have denied wrongdoing.

Norway’s Queen Mette-Marit, who is married to King Haakon, has apologised for her friendship with Epstein but is not appearing before the parliamentary hearing.

Parliament has also appointed an external commission of academics and legal experts to investigate matters raised by the Epstein files and examine ways of improving the integrity and transparency of Norwegian authorities.

The commission’s investigation covers more than 30 years of Norwegian diplomatic history, with its findings expected in early 2028.

(Reuters)